Venetian blind head-bar supporting bracket



Gttornegs Filed Dec. 5, 1946 Aug. 15, 1950 H NELSON mmm BLIND HEAD-BARSUPPORTING BRACKET Patented Aug. 15,v 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT ortiesHEAD-BAR.. BRACKEL` Harry- Nelson,A New York', Ni. YT., assigner toEorentzcni Hardware Mfgf. Corpi, New York, N-.Y'ra rpnmtioa of New-York'Application December 5, 1946, serial No. 714,210

This invention relates to Venetian blinds and more particularly to aVenetian; blind head-barsupporti'ngbracket.

Venetian blinds designed for mounting in or adjacent to' door andwindow' frames are customarily providedal head bar which is supportedonthe door' or window-- frame by special supporting brackets, and whichserves iin tum to support4 :asv tilt'v bar from which the balance o! theVenetian blind depends. Head bars for Venetian: blinds are often formedof' a stx-'ip of woodprovided with a channel formed in the upper face ofthe bar to provide a runwayv for the cords.

The. supporting" brackets for T/Te'netanv are usually mountedadjacentftoi the top ofthe door or winclrmu: trame: for supporting theblind acrossthe wall. opening. These brackets are usually adapted; foreitherinside or outside mountingsz. of' the blind,A an insidesW mountingbeingV` one in which the 'blind is nested withinthe wall opening', andan outsfdel'- mmmtngj being` one in which. the blind extends norm andbeyoud the wall opening'.

The tilt bar of a` Venetia-n blind is. supported at its ends from thehead bar; andwhere. the. tilt bar is more than three or four feet long',it isv customary to provide one or more menten" supports to additionallysupport the tilt bar from the head' bar. These center supports arecostomarily located adjacent mtermediary ladder tapeswlxich aid insupporting the balance of the blind. The load transmitted to the head:bar by the center supports tends. to bow the head bar downwardly unless;some additional support is given the intermediary portions.- o the headbar. Accordingly, intermediary brackets are orten secured to the door orwindow trame for supporting the head bar adiacenti. to the tilt barcenter supports. While intennediary heed bar brackets are most.frequently used in installations where the tilt bar is provided centersupmrts. such brackets may also. be used when the tilt bar is supportedonly at. its ends.

Venetian blind head hars formed o! moet are subject to the usual: ofnood dus to its drying' out over a period of.A time. This prob-v lem isparticularly acute at the present time eine to the shortage or properlyseasoned mod. so that itz is citen necessary to. form head bars of woodwhich fs of pour duality or improved@ een soned, resulting inhead barswhich have ntendency to twistand bow. both before and. afterinstallation of the blind.

An obiect of the present. inventwn is to provide anintermediaryhead-barnpportmgbrzok- 2, et of thin gauge metal having the strength andrigidity of a. bracket formed of much heavier gauge metal.

Another object of the. invention is to provide anintermcdiaryhead-bar-supporting bracket in which the surface of the head bar of theblind prevented from contacting the heads. of the bracket. installationscrews.

A further object of the invention is to provide, an intermediary bracketcapable of supporting a Venetian blind head bar against distortion.

A further object of the invention is to provide means. whereby the headbar of' a Venetian blind: is better secured in alignment. `throughoutits length.

istil-l further object; of the invention is to pro,- an intermediarysupport for Venetian blind` head bars which lends itself to inexpensiveand` rapid manufacture by stamping from sheet metal., and which will bedurable and serviceable inY operation.

Further objects, and objects relating to details' andi economies ofmanufacture, installationand use, will more definitely appear from thedetailed' description to follow.

Fig'. 'I of the drawings isa fron-t elevation of a Venetian blind headbar organization, showing the head bar supported by suitable brackets,and showing a. tilt bar mounted beneath the head bar;

Fig. 2 is s perspective view showing the intermediar-y bracket inBlunkett-out form including screw holes and reinforcing beads.

Fis. 3 E an. isometric view of the completed intermedury' bracket.

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross section of a head bar and intermediarybracket, taken in general on the line k--A of Fig. I.

Fig?. 5 a cross section similar to Fig. 4. showing the mounting of theintermediary bracket for an outside installation of a Venetian blind.

In the form shown, the present invention contemplates the forming of agenerally U-shaped intermediary head-bansupporting bracket fromrelatively thin sheet metal. Longitudinally-extendinginwardly-projecting beads or corrugations are formed in the metal, thesebeads serving to reinforce the metal throughout its length andparticularly at the points where the metal is transversely bent at thebase of the legs of the U-formation.

Holes .mag/ be formed in the legs andbottom of the lhJv-forniation for:mounting the f bracket adjacent to a wall opening and for securing aVenetian blind head bar to the bracket. These holes are located betweenthe longitudinal beads so as not to interfere with the'reiforcing func-117j. tion of the beads and so that the beads will serve to space thesides of the head bar .from the heads1 of fasteners, such asscrewsornails, whichsecure the bracket in position. By this means,scratch-1 ing and marring of the surfaceof the head ball' is prevented.

In its preferred form, the sheet metal bracket is of squared U-shagoneleg and the bottom of the .U-formation being of the same width and theother leg being somewhat narrower. Inwardly'pro'jecting beads are formedinfthe sheet material to increase the resistance of the metal againstbending. These beads are carried around the transverse bends separatingthe bottom porthelscre heads, thus preventing; marring and of-theheadbar. I 1 .'g.V 2 showsablank lffromwhichthe intermediary bracket I I maybe considered as being formed. This blank is formed from a iiat sheet of`relatively thin gaugev metal, preferablysteel, 'IfhcLblank Iis4generallyrectangular in outline and of uniform width .throughout mostof its length, the blankbeing stepped down at a point Utyteprovide anend portion I2 of somewhat reduced width. Marginal beads or corrugationsI 5,- IS'areformed along longitudinal edges of the widerportiOn I3 ofthe blank and marginal beads- I6, I6 are formed along the longitudinaledge rof thenarrower portion I2 of the blank, thebeads I6, I6extending'considerably beyond the stepped .point I4 of the blank. Inaddition, a centralbead II extends from the wider end of the blank IIJto considerably beyond the point I 4'of the blank-.g All of the beadsare formed on acommon; side ofthe blank.V f y A- plurality of spacedholes' I8 are formed in the blank; III-inthe space between the beads asindicated. in;1iig.; 2,-for the:` reception. of. fasteners such-asscrews fox-'mounting the bracket and for securing a Venetiany blind headbar t the bracket. The -blanklgmay be, conveniently fabricated lin aknown manner between dies ,actuated -by a QonventiQnaLpl-ess. 1

The bracket .havingbeen blanked after the fashion shown in Fig. 2, rightangle bendsare formed along the lines -2I) and 2I2I shown in Fig .g2 toformthe completedbracket shown in Fig. 3.3. Bending the blank |n. ,t0theformofthe U-shaped bracket II shown in.Fig.-;3 may be' accomplishedvin a-press bythe use of Lbend-- ingdiesjhese dies preferablyservingtoprevent ilatteningforcollapsingofthebeads I5. I5. 16.1.6A

and I'I at their intersection with the bending lines 2--20 and 2I-2I. Bypreventing flattening of the beads, the transverse surface at all pointsalong the length of the bracket I I is nonplanar, thus providing abracket that is much stronger than one having a. planar zone.Accordnglyf, this bracket may be fabricated of much thinner? steel than'onefdrmedofja planar sheet. The bracket may be plated or painted in any-well-known manner to prevent rust. This plating may be performed priorto fabrication of the blank, if desired;-

- The intermediary bracket above described `may 4-be installed intheyenetian blind head bar organization. shownin Fig. 1. Fig. ldiscloses a head bar 22 formed of a rectangular strip of wood providedwith a longitudinal channel 24 in the top surface thereof as shown inFigs. 4 and 5.

Channel 24 accommodates lift cords 25 which serve to operate the blind.A tilt bar 26 is rotatably, -mounted .below andparallel to .theheadbar-22 by acombinedtilt .bar bracketand .cord lock 21 and a tiltermechanisrnlsFittings 30 andf3I positienedgin theends of the tilt; bar 26serve .to engage the.,ti lt bar .-with the combined tiltl bar bracketandordfloklland-tilter mechanisin.l 29., respectively.- v.Ar-fconventional control cord 32 passed around zancordfpulley 34 on thetilter rmechanism 29l serves fto oscillate the tiltbar 26.5: This headbarf andjtilt-:barassembly iswell.- knowninthefart'and need not -bedescribed heremndetagl -fffiztfn "-"f f ;The head ar.1 22isfsupportedaatits-.ends by instal1ation.brackets .535-, :35, which-.areof-"the same. construction .but ofi' oppositeA hand :This is awell-imowngltypeof bracket-shownd'n my Patent 2,281,043' of- April28.1942: The bracket has a horizontal flange i311 fori engagement withthe underside ofpthe'rhead bari-22,2:onei`or more holes being providedtherein .for the reception Yofzscrews suchzas III4 forpositivelyfengaging the underside of the head bar 22.with' the :flange31.- Holes are provided in the vertical web 46'for the reception ofscrews suchv as 49..for the "inside. mounting shown in'Fig. 1. Thebracketisalso provided witha rear flange 42 having holes 40 therein toaccommodate mounting screws (not shown) "foroutsideinstallation-ofblinds. j.

For the inside mounting shown in Fig. 1, the intermediary head bar:bracket II ismounted on the underside of afwall opening. The bracket IIis "secured in position by screws 5I engaged in the holes I9 of thewider leg of the bracket and secured in the underside 5U of the wallopening. The' relationship of mounting. ofthe intermediary bracketv Ilto the installation brackets 35, 35 is such that' the narrowleg I2 of.the.intermediary bracket and the horizontal fiange''l ofl each of the'vinstaliationbrackets lie'in substantially the same: horizontal plane.'According1y, when the head `bar 22 is positioned onthe-horizontal'anges of-.vthe installation brackets. 35, 35,' theintermediary portion of the-bar is supportedin horizontal alignmentbythe bracket IIL@ i'. u

`Installation brackets,such.as are used to support -the Sends of a headbar, are normally provided :with somev means to prevent displacement of.the head bar. from the horizontal flanges of the bracket. In addition,in. some installations the ends ofv the-head bar arejrestrained againstany movement :relative to. the installation brackets.Inthelassemblyshow-n in Fig'. l; the ends of .the head bar 22 arerm1y..'x'ed-.to' the horizontal flange 31.ofeach -installationnbracket-by .means of:screwstisngaged;inthe headebanwwhile `this means 'ofsecuring the head bar to the installation brackets'ha's. certaindisadvantages, particularly in that thel removal' of' thecomplete'b'lind from the brackets entails. .more work, the ends of thehead barare retained in positive alignment, thus tending to restrain theTbai: against excessive warpage.

`lfYaesinet, the head bar may aisobeseeured to the intermediary support.Figs. 1 arid 4 dis'-l close the securing or the head ba'rztothe bracketIl by-.means of a screw 52 engaged in the. undersidey kof the head bar.`Firmly securing `the head bar toI the intermediary 4brackethas.certainadvantages i'n that the head bar "is 'maintained in 'better alignmentand any tendency to warp or twist isrestrained. Further, if the head baris already in warped or twisted condition, the misalignment may often becorrected by so securing the head bar to the intermediary bracket. It isto be understood that this securing of the head b-ar to the intermediarybracket is of particular utility in combination with installationbrackets which firmly position the ends of the head bar.

Fig. 5 of the drawings discloses the mounting of an intermediary bracketon the front face of a door or window frame for a so-called outsidemounting of a blind. In the outside mounting, the screws 5| arepositioned in the holes I9 located in the bottom of the U-formation ofthe bracket I l. Hence, the intermediary bracket herein described can beused interchangeably and without alteration for either an inside or"outside blind mounting.

A not readily apparent advantage of the bracket herein disclosed is thatit is unnecessary vto provide chamfered holes for the bracket mountingscrews 5l. The cylindrical walled holes I9 of the bracket Il are easilyformed in the same stamping operation in which the beads of the blankshown in Fig. 2 are formed. To chamfer these holes would require anadditional operation. Further, it is not necessary to use any particulartype of screws in securing the bracket in position, either round ornat-headed screws being equally satisfactory. These advantages arederived from the inwardly-projecting parallel beads I5, I5 and I1 whichmaintain the adjacent surfaces of the head bar 22 somewhat spaced fromthe heads of the mounting screws 5|. The ribs provide a smooth bearingfor the removal or installation of the head bar so that gouging of thesurface of the head bar by the heads of the mounting screws 5| isprevented. In addition, these ribs similarly aid in the removal orinstallation of a warped or twisted head bar which may be so out ofalignment as to bind with considerable pressure against the legs of thebracket II.

While the ordinary use of the bracket herein described is as anintermediary support for a head bar, there are certain installationssuch as corner windows in which the usual installation bracket cannotconveniently be used at one end of the head bar. For such installations,the bracket herein described may be used to good advantage, and it iswithin the scope of this invention to use this bracket for supportingthe Venetian blind head bar at any point along its length. Likewise, itis also obvious that two or more brackets of this type may be used atintermediary points along the head bar.

I claim:

l. A supporting bracket for a Venetian blind head bar comprising a rigidrelatively light gauge U-shaped sheet metal member having a pluralityshaped: sheet metal .member having a. plurality of' inwardly pressedlongitudinal corrug'ations serving to reinforce tl'i'e`bracket',1one oftheY of said bracket'bei'ng of. less widthftha'n the other leg, and thebracket having a pllalityf'oiholfes located;y 1in. the bottomv and oneleg. of the U-formationbetween, the `corri'igations thereof forreceiving screws for mounting the bracket.

3. A rigid supporting bracket for a Venetian blind head bar comprising-a thin sheet of metal having a pair of substantially right angletransverse bends forming it into a U-shape and having a plurality ofinwardly Ipressed longitudinal beads serving to reinforce the bracket,said bracket having a plurality of holes located between the beadsthereof in one of the legs and in the bottom portion of the U-formationfor receivlng screws for mounting the bracket.

4. A rigid supporting bracket for a Venetian blind head bar comprising athin sheet of metal having a, pair of substantially right angletransverse bends forming it into a U-shape and having a plurality ofinwardly pressed longitudinal beads extending around the transversebends and servf ing to reinforce the bracket, said bracket having aplurality of holes located between the beads thereof for receivingscrews for mounting the bracket.

5. A rigid supporting bracket for a Venetian blind head bar comprising athin sheet metal stamping having a pair of substantially right angletransverse bends forming it into a U-shape and having inwardly pressedmarginal beads extending around the transverse bends and serving toreinforce the bracket, said bracket having a plurality of holes locatedbetween the beads thereof for receiving screws for mounting the bracket.

6. A rigid supporting bracket for a Venetian blind head bar comprising athin sheet metal stamping having a pair of substantially right angletransverse bends forming it into a U-shape and having inwardly pressedmarginal beads extending around the transverse bends and serving toreinforce the bracket, said bracket having a plurality of holes locatedbetween the beads thereof in one of the legs and in the bottom portionof the U-formation for receiving screws for mounting the bracket.

7. A rigid supporting bracket for a Venetian .blind head bar comprisinga thin sheet metal stamping having a pair of substantially right angletransverse bends forming it into a U-shape, one of the legs of thebracket being of greater width than the other leg thereof, and aplurality of inwardly pressed longitudinal ma-rginal beads extendingaround the transverse bends and serving to reinforce the bracket, saidbracket having a plurality of holes located between the beads thereoffor receiving screws for mounting the bracket, certain of the holesbeing in the wider leg and out of alignment with the narrower leg.

8. A rigid supporting bracket for a Venetian blind head bar, comprisinga thin sheet metal stamping having a pair of substantially right angletransverse bends forming it into a U-shape having a base and two legs,the base as well as 7, one-legand the base end of theother leg beingwider than the remainder of the other leg, and marginal beads extendingadjacent to the longitudinal edges of the bracket, the marginal beadsofthe narrower and wider portions of the bracket overlapping each other.

9. A rigid supporting bracket for a Venetian blind head bar, comprisinga thin sheet metal stamping having a pair of substantially right angletransverse bends forming it into a U-shape having a base and two legs,the base as well as one leg and the base end of the other leg beingwider than the remainder of the other leg, marginal beads extendingadjacent to the longitudinal edges of the bracket, the marginal beads ofthe narrower and wider portions of the bracket overlapping each other,and holes for mounting screws formed in the wider leg between the beadsthereof and out of alignment with the narrower leg.

HARRY NELSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,676,485 Finucane July 10, 19281,732,483 Rachlin Oct. 22, 1929 1,816,500 Steffen July 28, 19312,255,326

Mintz Sept. 9, 1941

